With the experiments carried with the Magnetic Crescograph life becomes
subservient to the will of the experimenter. The rate of growth is
indicated by the speed with which a spot of indicating light moves
across the scale. The actual rate of growth is fifty thousandth part of
an inch per second; this under magnification is seen by the indicating
spot of light to move at the rate of 36 inches per second: this is the
normal rate. The plant is made to imbibe soda water and the growth
becomes suddenly exalted some ten times; but a puff of tobacco smoke
instantly retards the rate. To induce further retardation a depressing
drug is next applied. The growth gradually comes to a stop and the
quiescent of the spot of light shows life in a state of suspense. The
plant is now hovering in an unstable poise between life and death, a
slight tilt one way, and life gets interlocked in the rigidity of death.
But the antidote is applied just in time, the torpor and suspense is
over, and life renews her activity once more with the fullest vigour.
It is true that man is but poorly provided for his voyage of discovery
in seas unknown, he can hear little and see less. A single octave of
light circumscribes his vision; even of the visible the size of the
ripple of light imposes an impassable barrier. But he has not been
deterred by his limitations but has on the contrary been spurred on its
greater efforts in his explanation of the invisible. The mysterious
movements of life are not to remain for him inscrutable and
indecipherable for all times: but his untiring and single-minded pursuit
will someday reveal to him the secret that lies behind the
manifestations of life.
--_Amrita Bazar Patrika_, 13-1-1919.